Sunderland's promotion rivals make call over manager's future after Northampton embarrassment

The Blues have decided to keep their under-fire boss at the helm, following yesterday’s disgraceful 4-1 embarrassment at Northampton.

The Portsmouth News reports the club’s board are remaining squarely behind the 59-year-old, in the wake of a result which goes down as one of the low points in the club’s modern history.

The Echo’s sister publication reports that Informal discussions took place following a dark chapter and afternoon which ranks as dispiriting a moment in this or any other season at Sixfields.

And the conclusion is the best course at this stage is to keep the man who arrived in 2017 in his post.

It’s a decision that will infuriate the majority of Pompey fans, with anger intensifying following the first-half capitulation which saw four goals conceded against the division’s lowest scorers who were entrenched in the relegation zone.

The club are perfectly aware of the toxic environment and believe a siege mentality is what is required to get the campaign back on track, as it continues to unravel.

Fans are questioning whether the dressing room is still backing Jackett, but there actually remains a prevailing support for the Hertfordshire man among the current group.

Jackett now faces a daunting run of league fixtures in which he has to turn around the season.

In-form Sunderland come to Fratton Park on Tuesday and after the Papa John’s Trophy final against Salford City next Saturday, it’s a trip to Peterborough and Paul Cook’s Ipswich up next.